A new study warns that taking the herbal remedy ginkgo biloba may raise the risk of seizures among people with epilepsy. The report also suggests that ginkgo may reduce the effectiveness of anti-seizure drugs.
For the study, scientists reviewed past research on ginkgo and uncovered 10 reports indicating an increased seizure risk for epilepsy patients taking the herb. According to laboratory research, ginkgotoxin (a compound found in ginkgo) may alter chemical signaling pathways in ways that could trigger seizures.
One of the most popular herbal supplements in North America, ginkgo is thought to contain compounds that help stimulate circulation by improving muscle tone in the walls of the blood vessels. Proponents claims that ginkgo can help protect against a number of health conditions (including Alzheimer's disease, depression, macular degeneration, and headache), as well as boost mental function and improve sexual dysfunction.
Its sometimes hard to believe that a supplement you take to improve your quality of life can be affecting it like this. I hope that no epileptic sufferers have suffered from more seizures, I suppose initially it must be hard to prove that it is gingko and not the condition worsening.
I was wondering what you thought about raw diet for kids too. I learned of a product that my kids like in their lunchboxes called gudernoobs. They are made by Woohoo Foods.